Honoring Veteran's Month at Smart&Sexy
As a lingerie company always designed with women in mind, we are continuously inspired by the incredible stories of the women we have the privilege to meet.
This month, we are honored to partner with V-WISE once again. Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship is an organization that helps educate and promote the entrepreneurial pursuits of women veterans and female military spouses/partners. In November, your purchases will help three female veteran business owners whose business have been affected by COVID-19. In addition, we will be awarding $5,000 each to put toward their business needs.
Continue reading to find out more about Beverly, Monica, and Natasha- some of the amazing entrepreneurs that have graduated from V-WISE and have turned their passions into successful businesses.
Beverly Grandison
U.S. Army, Airborne Captain
Owner, Premier Health + Wellness Consulting, LLC.
Beverly Grandison is a Retired Army Captain and Airborne Qualified (she jumped out of planes). She enlisted into the Army as an Operating Room Technician at Fort Devens, Massachusetts where she participated in Operation CONTINUE HOPE, Somalia, Africa. She has been stationed numerous places around the United States and abroad to include Korea (Patriot Missiles), Guatemala and Afghanistan for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (Signal Corps). Today, Beverly is Co-Owner/Founder of Premier Health + Wellness Consulting, LLC (SWaM and SDVOSB certified). The company helps organizations improve productivity, lower absenteeism, presenteesim, and health care costs through effective coaching and training that have lasting effects.
Monica Alvardo
U.S. Air Force, Intelligence Analyst
Founder, Chef, and Chief Bottle Washer of Bread and Butter Kitchen
A reformed corporate rock star and Air Force veteran, Monica left her 22-year career in technology in 2016 to start Bread and Butter Kitchen with the vision of sharing her passion for making amazing food that celebrates local ingredients. She originally began making and selling fully prepared meals-to-go from scratch using local ingredients at the local farmers market. Just eight months later, she took the leap and opened a restaurant in the Annapolis community of Eastport. Monica continues to work closely with local farmers and vendors to source the best ingredients available. She and her amazing team serve up great food 7 days a week at the cafe.
Natasha Standard
Combat Veteran
CEO and Founder, Norie Shoes and Eqwal Footwear
During the 15 years that the Bronze Star awarded Airborne Logistics Officer served in the U.S. armed forces in Italy, Iraq, and Germany, Standard’s skills were proven as she supervised supply chain logistics for equipment and personnel on a global scale. She learned to trust her judgement and hone the traits that make her a successful entrepreneur: being decisive, strategic, research-driven, analytical, technical, and unstoppable.
Today, Natasha Standard’s two footwear divisions include Eqwal and Norie Shoes. In 2020, Eqwal developed the first military combat boots designed specifically for women. Surprisingly, female service members today still wear boots designed for men. Eqwal was selected by the business accelerator NYU Tandon Veteran’s Future Lab for 20-21, and is being considered for the SBIR/AFWERX accelerator program for the next stage of development. The mission of Norie Shoes, founded in 2017, is comfortable, stylish and high quality shoes at an “affordable luxury” price point.
